Improvement in hand cotton-pickers



T. W. HAM. Hand Cotton-Picker.

No. 220,607. I Patented Oct. 14,1879.

\ II)@ I I WITNESSES INVENTOB.

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTONv D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS W. HAM, OF FROSA, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND COTTON-PICKERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,607, dated October14, 1879; application filed August 5, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM HAM,

of Frosa, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Hand Cotton-Pickers, of which thefollowing is a specification. Figure 1 is a side View of my improvedmachine, part being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 2 is anend view of the same. Fig. 3 is. a front view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved hand-machine forpicking cotton from the stalks in the field which shall be simple inconstruction, convenient in use, and effective in operation, removingthe fiber quickly and entirely from the bolls.

The invention consists in the combination of the frame, the "threeboards, a series of cranks, the handle, a projecting spindle, and thefour guide-pins with each other, and in the combination of a pivoted capwith the recessed shedding-board and the spindle, as hereinafter fullydescribed.

A represents a small frame, formed of two side bars connected at theirends by rounds, which serve as handles in using the machine. To themiddle part of the frame A, and concentric therewith; is attached aboard, B, in the hole of which works the spindle G. Upon the spindle 0,at the outer side of the board B, is formed'or to it is attached thecrank D, the pin of which works in a hole of the board E. The board E isconnected at its four corners with the four corners of the board B byfour cranks, F, so that the said board E will always be kept parallelwith the said board B.

To the center of the outer side of the board E, and about in line withthe crank-pin of the center crank, D, is attached the handle G, by meansof which the said board E is operated to' rotate the spindle O. Thespindle C is designed to be made hollow and with an oval point, andpasses through a central hole of the board H, which is placed upon fourequidistant guide-pins, I. The bases of the guide-pins I are attached tothe board B, and the said pins have knobs or heads formed upon orattached to their forward ends to serve as stops to keep the board Hfrom passing ofi the said ends.

In the rear side of the sheddingboard H is formed a recess to receivewater to keep the spindle G moistened, so that it will take hold of thecotton more readily, which recess is covered by a cap, J, as shown inFig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The cap J is pivoted at one end tothe shedding-board H, and has a curved slot formed in it, to allow it tobe swung on and off the spindle O.

In using the machine the spindle G is thrust endwise into thecotton-bolls, and is turned around by operating the crank to wind thefiber upon it. WVhen the spindle is loaded the frame A is rested uponthe edge of the basket and the board H is pushed down, pushing off thefiber and shedding it into the said basket.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the frame A, the threeboards B E H, the series of cranks D F, the handle G, the spindle G, andthe four guidepins I with each other, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the pivoted cap J with the recessed shedding-boardH and the spindle G, substantially as herein shown and described.

THOMAS WM. HAM.

Witnesses:

JAMES B. Soocrr, H. B. KEYsER.

